Heru Attends Jakarta Half Marathon 2023 Kick Off

Jakarta Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono kicked off the Jakarta Half Marathon 2023 at Asean MRT Station, South Jakarta, Thursday (5/25).

Residents will support efforts to make it a sports tourism destination

It is part of a series of 4 big agendas in Jakarta, namely Jakarta's 496th Anniversary, Indonesia's 78th Independence Day, Keketuaan Indonesia in ASEAN, and ASEAN's 56th Anniversary. This running competition was initiated by PT MRT Jakarta and Intelligent Transport System Association (ITS)

"We believe that runners will be happy to join and residents will support efforts to make it a sports tourism destination through this running competition," he expressed, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release.

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This running competition which will be attended by around 10,000 runners is expected to enliven the four big agendas in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta.

"By juxtaposing this running sport, one of them will enliven the celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day. So, on August 17, there will be the August 17 Festival which will last from morning to evening at the Presidential Palace and Monas. Then on August 20, there will be a running competition. Then on August 17-20, there will be the FIBA international basketball event," he explained.

Besides providing entertainment for Jakartans, the Jakarta Half Marathon is also an event to promote Jakarta to people around the world. This even can also revive Jakarta's economy because there are MSMEs involved in it. "So, it is carried out with the aim of realizing Jakarta's success for Indonesia," he explained.

PT MRT Jakarta President Director, Tuhiyat said he said Jakarta MRT supports the Jakarta Half Marathon. It is in line with MRT Jakarta's vision and mission as a rail-based operator to exist as a sustainable company and participate in developing the urban lifestyle of Jakarta residents and improving the economy around Jakarta MRT route.

"We support the Jakarta Government's programs in order to improve the quality of life of the community through activities that have a positive impact," he continued.

According to him, PT MRT Jakarta received a mandate from the Jakarta Government as a Race Collaborator or collaborative partner for organizing the Jakarta Half Marathon event with ITS Indonesia, Royalindo Expoduta and Idearun Race Management

"The specialty of Jakarta Half Marathon event will start from Monas and then pass through MRT station area to Asean Building. This year is the first Jakarta Half Marathon and it will become an annual agenda," he added.

ITS Indonesia President, William P. Sabandar added ITS Indonesia is ready to become a partner of Jakarta Government and PT MRT Jakarta to smoothen the event.

"ITS Indonesia is a forum for collaboration between government, business, civil society, and academia in supporting the development of smart transportation in Jakarta. We support the Jakarta Half Marathon in order to introduce Jakarta as the host of the ITS Asia Pacific Forum which will be held in May 2024. It is an international transportation forum attended by various countries," he uttered.

Registration for Jakarta Half Marathon will open on May 26, 2023 at 4 PM and there will be 78 Merdeka Slots that can be accessed free of charge by participants, referring to the 78th anniversary of Indonesia's independence this year. The position of the Merdeka slot will apply the "first come, first serve" mechanism. If the Merdeka Slot has been filled, the registration system will open a limited Early Bird slot with a 20% discount.

This competition will make the Monas Southeast Plaza the starting and finishing point, with the race track crossing the main areas of the Capital City, such as Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Jalan M. H. Thamrin, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, and Jalan Sisingamangaraja. It is open to national and international participants, from student classes to master classes aged 40 to 50 and over. Participants can choose to run in the Half Marathon category with 21K distance being the highest category, as well as 10K and 5K categories.

Apart from being a sporting event, it also aims to support MSMEs and Jakarta's economic growth. Participants and visitors can visit a variety of interesting activities which will be centered on the Lapangan Banteng, such as the MSME product exhibition, Betawi art performances, and Betawi culinary exhibitions.